Summer's winding down

And the fair is over for another year. I went Thursday night and got my fill. I ate great French fries with vinegar, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, and a funnel cake. I got a big bag of cotton candy, which came home with me. The biggest surprise for me was the alpacas. I lump them together with llamas in my mind but alpacas make the most horrible noises!

I also have show-and-tell about the bracelets I just bought. They are Donna D'Aquino's work. Aren't they fabulous? I've barely taken them off since I bought them at the Turtle Gallery. I also just discovered Blossom Studio. I do love the beach glass looking earrings. I bought frosted blue ones and wore them immediately. I wanted to see Elizabeth Sawyer's work, up at a gallery next door but the sign said, "Gone sailing" so I have to go back.

We are well into September, which means the traffic is lighter, the days are a bit cooler and the conversation circles around where you can see the best foliage and when the peak season will be. Maine's Official Fall Foliage Website is fabulous! This area traditionally peaks between October 8 and October 21. We have already seen the odd limb here and there. I haven't had that afternoon yet where it's a full on sunny day but not hot and the breeze has a fall football feel to it. School's have started and George Stevens Academy, that gorgeous white building across the street, has welcomed 28 international students this year.
I snuck away from the inn and had lunch at the Cockatoo with some old friends. As I tell guests, it has the prettiest dining room view of any restaurant in the area. (The Maritime Cafe, in Stonington, has a pretty great view, as does the Lookout but the Cockatoo, adjacent to property owned by the Nature Conservancy, is my favorite.) I got out to the Lookout finally, too. I have to admit, I don't love mussels. I do always try them, though, and at the Lookout, they were incredible!
I had lobster cakes and a great soup, too. Everything--from the bread basket to the bottle of wine we selected to the coffee crème brûlée--I can't believe I waited until the end to tell you about dessert! I love crème brûlée but this was beyond any I've had--so creamy, so delicate crispy, and so smoothly coffee flavored. I wonder if I can get it to go... I've tried to figure out how to serve crème brûlée at the inn but since we only serve breakfast and crème brûlée would make a messy pillow chocolate, I think I have to keep dining out. Aw, shucks, right?

If you're planning to come to our amazing Foliage, Food and Wine Festival in October, call immediately! We got mentioned on CNN Friday and have been fielding oddles of inquiries. Did I tell you we're collaborating with El El Frijoles? They do amazing dinner clubs in the quiet season and Michelle is an amazing cook. We all adore Maxx at the Wine Shop and he'll be pairing wines for us. Have you met him yet? He's just brilliant about the grape. We all need friends like that.

So I've gone on too long and didn't get to mention the latest crop of amazing guests--I continue to struggle with my Italian (OK, struggle is generous. I don't speak Italian. Some day I will.) as the write up in gli itinerari di DOVE has made us a popular stop for traveling Italians (seriously, how long do I have to spend in Italy in order to get some of their style? Really, do you think I could? Pick up style like picking up a language?). Just America travel agency continues to send us Brits with great senses of humor. And September is always Georgia month as southerns escape the heat. But please, if you already know you're coming, whether this year or next, call and reserve your room. Between weddings and reunions and special events, we're already holding lots of rooms and I want you to have the room you want the nights you want.

I have to resist having a second strawberry muffin. Two are left from breakfast this morning but Assistant Innkeeper Maura, who will be on soon, and Venice, one of the housekeepers who keeps this place spotless, haven't tried this new recipe of Matt's. Resist, Sarah, resist!

Update: I then remembered Maura doesn't eat flour things. I saved the bigger of the two for Venice. Well, at least I haven't eaten it yet! They are sooooo good.

Final update: Venice came and got it. Whew!

How is it late August already?!?

Summer is flying by in a whirlwind of boat rides, art, and the best guests ever.

You should plan to be here on August 21 next year. Our garden party has become an annual event because it's just too delicious not to have it each year.

The theme--polka dots! Matt, head-of-kitchen extraordinaire, made the magical cake. All of the staff pitched in to make a great party and the weather held and the moon came up and there were stars, in my eyes and in the sky. The inn's orchard is a great place for a party. We have a fire bowl for some extra heat and light (and s'mores), plenty of seating, and even a Twister board to set up. We've wired speakers and hung lights. It's idyllic! You could plan your party here---a small wedding, a cocktail party, a special event, a family reunion...

Yesterday, Jetsun Penkalski had an art opening at the Turtle Gallery in Deer Isle. We already love Jetsun because he works at Blue Hill Books and doesn't mock your selection, ever, but now we love him because he's an amazing artist, too. Above is Shadows in the Forest #4, oil on canvas, a painting from this year. Below is Golden Pool. I especially like the Turtle Gallery because Elena has a broad range of art--glass, paintings, sculpture, jewelry. I managed to escape yesterday with just two bracelets, but the images aren't on the website so you'll have to visit me or the gallery to see them.

I have gotten a good share of boatrides in, in case you were wondering why I haven't been blogging more. I had cocktails aboard Anna, who happened to be built at my favorite boatyard in Brooklin. I've been in a rowboat or two, I was on a kayak on Toddy Pond, and I was taken out mackerel fishing and swimming on a lovely Boston Whaler. Tina, who works at WoodenBoat publications, captains the Whaler and brought lemon, a baggie, a fillet knife, and cocktail sauce. We had ceviche on the beach! I had also brought some smoked salmon and cheddar cheese from the farmer's market so we had quite a picnic. This is my sort of August.

Guests have gone on boatrides, too, with all my favorites--Capt. Bill, Karen, the MERI eco-cruises, Beth and Peter, and Capt. Lee.

Capt. Carey and his crew stayed here to race his Atlantic at the nationals at the Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club in Blue Hill. Julie Jo Ferhle watched from aboard Anna and took this picture. That's Blue Hill in August.

My latest favorite thing? The homemade pickles at the Birdwatcher's Cafe. It's new, right down by the water not two blocks from the inn, and sweet as all get out. I took a friend there for a birthday lunch and fell in love with the pickles. We had a BLT and a chicken salad sandwich and shared. Both were yummy but a BLT is especially decadent.

I hope your August has been summery and decadent, too. Are you ready for the fair? Labor Day Weekend is always fairtime around here. Did you know that the Blue Hill Fair was fodder for Charlotte's Web? I just found out from a previous innkeeper that E.B. White actually sold eggs to the inn for awhile!

A Day Trip to Deer Isle

August is getting away from me! So much has been happening at the inn and in the area. Matt and Don have been making the best breakfasts. My current favorite is the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast, made with bread from Jill Smith at Millbrook Bakery. Luckily it's not on the menu every morning! (Jill has a booth at the farmer's market on Saturdays. Beware the pecan sticky buns!) Here's a picture of Matt in the kitchen at the inn in the early hours, preparing fruit plates.

In the meantime, guests are so enjoying the Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies that we serve with breakfast and with hors d'oeuvres, I had to make a quick trip to Deer Isle to replenish stocks. I took Julie Jo Fehrle with me because, although she has lived in Blue Hill forever, she hadn't seen the wonders of Peter Beerits sculpture or gotten to sample one of the seventeen flavors Nervous Nellie offers. Lucky for me, I can hand the camera to her. Any trip to Deer Isle and Stonington ought to include a visit to Jill Hoy's gallery. Her work is in a big barn just up the hill from the harbor in Stonington.
A minute ago we were celebrating early spring and now the gardens have that August feel to them.

For lunch, a great option is El El Frijoles, a fabulous Mexican restaurant and art gallery just waiting to transport you to Mexico. Michael and his crew do an amazing job with favorites like fish tacos and empanadas. You must try the corn salsa! In the winter they put on supper clubs, often giving a Mexican twist to another nationality. You have to be on the secret guest list or you'll never get in. Go here to get on.

We had another couple get engaged!!! We had been brought in on the secret with the question, "If the weather isn't good for watching the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain, where would be another great place to propose?" Luckily, the weather held, Debbie said yes and you can see their glow from across the peninsula. Poor Debbie was asking, "What kind of vacation is this? We have to get up how early?" but she agreed it was all worth it.

Another sweet story from the inn involves Brian, who must be up for the best son ever award. He called to say his parents were coming to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. He wanted to help make their stay special. Dan of Dan's Flower Farm brought in a gorgeous bouquet and Brian ordered a fun box full of memorabilia. The couple's room looked great and Brian did a great job keeping the surprise. They were tickled.

The Blue Hill Fair is coming right up over Labor Day and we're starting to hammer out the details for our big wine festival in October. If you haven't done something really summery yet--like walking barefoot in the soft grass--get on it!